Kris Aquino appeared to have gotten engaged to former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Mel Sarmiento, as she happily declared him as “my best friend and the man I said yes to spending the rest of my life with.”
On Sunday, in an Instagram update about her life, the 50-year-old TV host-actress thanked her late brother, President Noynoy Aquino, for being her and the 59-year-old politician’s “matchmaker in Heaven.”
“It’s been exactly 4 months since we so unexpectedly lost our brother. Sure ako, ayaw nya talagang iwanan si ‘bunso’ na walang magbabantay at mag-aalaga na siguradong pinagkakatiwalaan nya,” Kris wrote.
“Somehow I believe there really was a matchmaker in heaven who must be smiling now – I can almost hear his voice telling me, ‘Kristina, tama na, respect the fact na gusto ni Mel ng tahimik na buhay.’ And finally, ‘bunso’ has learned to obey,” she added.
Kris recalled that she would have never met or reconnected with Sarmiento if not for her Kuya Noy.
“Thank you to my kuya, kahit wala na sya ramdam na ramdam ko na kahit ilang beses kaming nagkatampuhan, kahit kailan gagawa talaga sya ng paraan na ma-assure kami nila kuya Josh at Bimb kung gaano nya kami kamahal at hindi talaga sya papayag na ma feel namin na kami ay mapapabayaan. We love you and we miss you,” she said.
“But THANK YOU, you must have known how broken I’d be to lose you, so you made sure there was someone who not only helped wipe away my tears, he’s made it possible for me to smile and laugh again.”
She noted how Sarmiento came into her life unexpectedly. “Dumating nung hindi ko hinahanap o inaasahan – kaya nga tama silang lahat na nagsabi in God’s perfect time.”
Kris also expressed her appreciation to Sarmiento for being patient with her and for loving her.
“To my best friend and the man I said yes to spending the rest of my life with, thank you for as Bimb said loving me for me, with no agenda, and for being just an overall good and patient man. It’s unreal how much more calm & peaceful I feel now that you’re here.”
While she didn’t give any more details, Kris ended her post by saying that she can’t wait to be Mrs. Sarmiento.
“We agreed, what’s personal shall remain private so hanggang dito lang ang pwede kong ma share. Except I guess to say as much as I am proud to be an Aquino, looking forward na kong maging Sarmiento.”
The post came with a video clip showing her and Sarmiento getting all cozy and playful with the Savage Garden song, I Knew I Loved You, playing in the background.
This also marked the first time he appeared on her social media account.
Kris first went public with her brewing romance with Sarmiento in a birthday post last August, describing him as someone “I feel even Noy will finally approve”.
READ: Kris Aquino says even late brother Noynoy will approve of ‘mystery man’
Kris was previously married to basketball star James Yap, the father of her second child Bimby. After a five-year union, they separated in 2010 and were annulled in 2012.
Sarmiento, meanwhile, served the DILG from September 2015 to June 30, 2016. He was also the former congressman of Samar’s first district from 2010 to 2015, and a three-term mayor of Calbayog City from 2001 to 2010.
